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Back at home, Dayap's hubby picked us up as expected. Being a Friday, traffic was slow on some points going to the airport but it worsened as we approached the airport. I didn't even know which terminal we would be using. But since Dayap's hubby was seeing us off, I wasn't worried at all.....On the way to the airport, I asked Dayap's hubby to pass by a Mcdo or Jolibee since Cebu Pacific, our carrier, does not provide food...... ED and I bought burgers and fries.... We went on with our trip.... Slowed down by traffic, I decided to eat a pastillas Go nut donut which I requested Dayap's hubby to buy for us. That proved to be a mistake as that was the start of our series of disasters......Maybe not, the traffic was..... the pastillas sauce dripped and stained my clothes and my backpack. MD, who mwas seated beside me assisted me in cleaning up the mess while reprimanding me for my gluttony...... I sulked like a kid who got caught with her hand in the cookie jar and whose finger got caught between the lid and the mouth of the jar and still got a dressing down from mum.......
After negotiating an ardous and tight traffic, we finally arrived at NAIA Terminal 3. As soon as we stepped, the two boys were frantic telling me they wanted a potty
break. I said wait till we check in. Running out of time, we raced (yes, I was like we're competing for the Amazing Race) to the PTA counter to pay our travel tax. I paid P6,480. Yes, that's is an add-on to your travel expense if you are planning to travel abroad. That's not the end of it..... Since the two boys kept on bugging me, I relented to their request for a potty break
telling them to hurry up. ED< MD< and I proceeded to the check-in counter...... I checked our luggage and gave all our travel documents to the airline personnel. I thought there would be no hitches as our seats have even been reserved since we bought the tickets. Then, she started asking me about Dayap's son. I have the DSWD document and the birth certificate which are in the pouch given me by Dayap's hubby. I was coached by Dayap on her son's status. She and her hubby are permanent HK resident visa holder..... so are their two older sons. But the youngest is still a step away from completing the process and is therefore not a HK permanent resident visa holder and is traveling as a tourist without such visa. Problem is the kid did not have a return flight ticket and they were looking for that. Now, how do I solve the problem of Dayap's son? I was ready to face being the surrogate mum but wasn't prepared for this problem. I explained patiently and persistently using my vaunted charm which seemed to have failed this time. I was given the consolation of the case being referred to the
supervisor. Still, it's a no go for Dayap's son. He needed a return flight ticket. I called Dayap's hubby and told him. He said he would call Dayap and for me to wait for Dayap's response. Wait we did and the kids were getting anxious as minutes dragged on. The counter personnel had the courtesy to tell me that we could check in already if we wanted to but Dayap's son couldn't without the ticket. I was trying to bargain to allow us all to check in saying I am sure that Dayap and her hubby would remedy the situation. She said she couldn't do that. We can check in ahead and Dayap's son could check in when the ticket confirmation number is sent. If that is done, Dayap's son's luggage is in excess of one kilogram which we have to pay. I told her that we would just wait. She politely reminded me that boarding time is at 4:15pm. It was around 3:45pm and we were still in the counter waiting. I could feel butterflies in my tummy.....Then, my phone got a beep. I never loved the sound of a text message more than this
time when I felt so helpless. It was Dayap with her son's return ticket details. I showed it to the lady in the counter who immediately checked on her PC. It was not appearing in their booking. We rechecked the text message and she told me it's a PR number. Hence, it won't appear in their bookings. I would have to get a ticket printout from the PAL ticketing office..... Drats, drats, and double.... make that triple drats....... which is located in the other hall. Without any choice, I ran to the counter shared by PAL and Air Philippines. The PAL side had a sign which says 'Closed'...... arrrrrgh. I asked the Air Philippines personnel who is handling the PAL counter and an elderly man would emerged. He would turn to a woman with children asking for ticket rate to Singapore taking his sweet time. I was eyeing him with eagle's eyes all the time. I actually wanted to kill him. After losing precious minutes on this inquiry, he turned to me. I explained what I needed and he searched on his PC, confirmed Dayap's son's name, and printed the ticket..... Ahhhhh.... We are still not out of the woods. I ran to the counter dangling the ticket up in the air as I was nearing the counter. The lady processed Dayap's son. Finally, we were let in.I paid for our travel permit. Another P3750 for the five of us. Gosh, I needed another P10k for our pre-departure expense. HK airport does not charge any of that. But I hardly had enough emotion to think about that. After the check-in mess, we would have to deal with immigration. I didn't even want to think what's in store for us anymore. Facing the immigration officer, the only question asked is where I was working. Oooh, I learned my lesson on this a month ago. I said I worked in a school as a part-time professor which is true. No further questions were asked and we were cleared........ Ya'y.
MD wanted a toilet break since we entered the airport and I kept delaying her request as I wanted to get cleared by the immigration first. Dayap and her hubby were calling too and I couldn't answer it as I was being frisked as we went through another security procedure. I was assisting the kids too. After that, MD, ED, and I went for the nearest toilet while Dayap's son put on his shoes on the lounging chair. I told MS and Dayap's son to stay put and wait for us. We were in a hurry as by this time the plane should be boarding. Ah, the feeling of relief after holding it for so long.
We rushed to our gate and there were a lot of passengers waiting. Our flight was on the computer screen. We sat and settled ourselves. We ate our sandwiches and donuts. The PA system kept on paging a final call for the passengers of a flight. At some point, I thought it was us. Then, there was an announcement that our flight would be delayed. We will be boarding at 5:30pm instead. MS was bored, restless, and mad. I had to explained to him that these things happen.
Around 5:15pm, passengers would be boarding the plane. The kids and I said goodbye to hubby. We positioned ourselves in the designated seat. I had to settle one more issue with Dayap's son. His seat is so far away from us. I tried asking the fellow seated beside me if they could switch but he said he is also with kids seated at the opposite row. ED and MD's seatmate was an elderly foreigner.... so no dice.... I told the flight attendant about my problem and she said we should wait till everyone is seated to know if there will be vacant seats. I said that if there's none, I'll take the place of Dayap's son. MD and ED would have to sit separately with MS and Dayap's son in that case even as MS protested sitting with a sister. I couldn't sit still as this remained an issue. When everyone was seated, I asked the flight attendant again. There was a vacant window seat in the row opposite MD and ED's. The fellow beside me volunteered to have that seat. He would be near his wards. I thanked him.
In a few minutes, we took off. MS and Dayap's son happily whiled the time away. ED and MD were quietly settled into their seats. I tried to relax a bit as I know our (mis)adventure is still not concluded. Without meal, TV, and music, the flight seemed so long. In a PAL or Cathay flight, we would be landing ahortly after we finish our meals. I read the Smile magazine from cover to cover, even the fine print of the ads....... I got to know that they sell snacks and beverage on the flight with food and drinks costing double or triple the price. Well, here they do exercise monopolistic powers on us, passengers. Dayap's son would buy a Pepsi for P50. MS wanted to buy one too for the sake of buying but I prevailed over him. Dayap's son good-heartedly shared his cola with MS.
In a while, HK's lights would be seen from the window. We would be landing soon. The plane veered as the view outside changed from HK's night lights to the skies.
MS would asked where the lights went. I explained that the plane is being maneuvered in preparation for landing. In a while, the plane would touch down and screeched to full stop. It slowly taxied to our steel walkway. After the vessel stopped fully, passengers stood up to get their luggage from the overhead compartment. One of our bags went to the farthest corner of the compartment..... I couldn't reach it. A foreigner, a burly European man would reach for it and hand it to me saying "There, because you are too short!" I replied, "I am not short and thanks for handing me the bag." Seeing MS and Dayap's son holding a bag of popcorn each, he would ask what's for dinner. I didn't want to prolong the conversation and I quickly retorted, "popcorn!" He mocked me saying, "That's why your boys are so short!" That's it..... I replied, "Of course that ain't true..... and we're cut out this way!" I had enough for the day and I was trying to avoid any more altercation. Good thing he contented himself talking to his companion in their language. In the walkway, he would again be at our backs trying to rush us. I told the kids to let him pass. At this point, the slightest provocation from him would get my goat. Good for him, I was so stressed that I wasn't my usual sarcastic self. Had I been, WWIII could have erupted between David and Goliath. I hate these bigots who think their opinions matter to the rest of mankind. The moment we stepped foot inside HK airport, I took pictures. The girls were actually irked but I clicked away at the walk ramp. MS and Dayap's son gamely posed
for the camera. ED and MD were less cooperative. At the immigration area, I was cautioned on taking pictures so I kept my cam. We lined up for immigration clearance. At our turn, we approached the immigration officer as one group. The officer rudely returned the passports to me as MS, Dayap's son's and my immigration cards were not inserted inside the passports. ED and MD put the cards inside the passports. Then, he looked at each one intently as he held one passport after another scolding the boys every time they went at the side of his booth speaking in Chinese to the other immigration officer. I was getting exasperated but I bit my lips as I looked at him. That's is another thing I noticed about these people here. This is their airport and they can't even welcome their guests warmly. Are they so consumed about the progress of their economy that they can arrogantly treat visitors this way. his is not the first time, I experienced being handled by a rude IO in HK. Actually, it's more often than not that they are rude. Anyway, my kids and I got cleared even as this monster of an IO would repeatedly tell MS, "Not yet!" as he attempted to get past the booth. I wanted to really kick his ass. Then when he looked at Dayap's son passport, he painstakingly look at all pages commenting in Chinese to the other IO. He asked me for additional document and all I have is the DSWD clearance issued by the Philippine government. I told him he has a return ticket and he looked at it. I thought everything was alright. Another IO came and put all our passports in a plastic tray leading us to chairs behind the booth. I could just think, "Oh no, not again....." I had to think positive. I could call Dayap in case there is a problem but I was hoping to solve the issue and not bother her. Then, the woman IO called me and Dayap's son handing my and my kids' passports. I turned over our passports to the girls. She handed me Dayap's son's passport and told me to bring him back to the booth. I accompanied him but a male IO would cut me off telling me he should go alone. Exasperated, I said, "He's a child!" He rudely said, "You can see him right here. Nothing will happen to him." I asked, "What's the problem anyway. He has a return ticket". He looked at it and said it's ok. Eventually, the rude IO officer would clear Dayap's son. Relieved, we all went to the luggage area.
We quickly collected our luggage. It was way almost 9:00 pm by this time..... so we missed all the bus sked provided in Dayap's instruction. I approached their customer service personnel to ask for the bus sked and he gave me a tiny brochure with the bus sked. The next bus would be arriving in about 25 minutes.... I told the kids we would aim for that. Dayap's son led us to the city terminal. I took more pics of irritated kids....
I purchased our bus tickets at the booth. Shortly, our bus arrived. Tired and hungry, the kids ate donuts inside the bus. It takes less than an hour to reach
Dayap's place. The girls and I would learn things during that hour long ride. The next stop is actually indicated on the electronic board in front of the bus. Estimating the time, I would ask Dayap's son if we are near. In about two or three stops, he said, "two more stops." Reaching the second stop, he would recognize it is the wrong stop until the electronic board would bear out Maon Shan which is our stop. He would tell us to stand up already as the time window to get off is short. Reaching our bus stop, I pulled all our luggage and gave the plastic bags to MS and Dayap's son. ED and MD would handle he smaller luggage. Of course, i would be responsible for the big luggage. We passed through an elevator and I held on tightly to the luggage careful not to let it slip as there were people behind us. We passed through a walkway and a mall. The boys would surged ahead and I would call out to them to slow down as I couldn't keep up. I would asked for a short break thrice. Dayap's son would always tell me we're near. I told him that my arm was separating from my body. We got through an elevator and Dayap's son would be confused which floor to press. He pressed G and surely we went down. Once at the ground floor, he realized it's a mistake and we would all laughed. I asked, "where?". he said, "I don't know." OMG. I said, "Try P." P is the right button. We came out of the elevator and walk past a garden until we reached their block. Once inside the building, a Chinese guard would stop us. I showed her Dayap's email with her address pointing to Dayap's son in the hope that she recognizes him. She called Dayap who told her in broken Chinese to let us in as we are friends.
Again we took the elevator to Dayap's floor. Dayap welcome us into her home. She prepared a nice shabu shabu and chicken in chinese sauce dinner for us. The kids and I would eat heartily as I narrated our experience to her. She was worried too. After dinner, the kids would freshen up and change clothes one by one. Dayap and I would clean up watching TV, catching up, and making plans for tomorrow.
Dayap retired early. I stayed up a bit late to check my email, blog, and load pictures. In between, I would freshen up to take away the day's troubles and worries. Sleep would catch up with me and I would retire.
Goodnight and Hello Hongkong! Tomorrow, we will explore you.....
Note: This is the second part of my April 3 post.
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